Interviews - Benjamin Jeanson...Executive Chef, Monzu Bistro & Custom Cakes

We like Monzu Bistro & Custom Cakes. You know this. Their top tier food and service set them apart from the rest of the “Bistro Bunch” here in Green Bay.

The first review Gonzo Guide Green Bay did on Monzu was back in February. Since that time we have been to many other places, but this one still stands out as one of the best. Sure the food is fresh, the presentation neat, and the staff friendly and quick to recommend one of their personal menu favorites. Sure they do succulently moist and mind blowing cakes and pastries…but there has to be more. What really makes Monzu tick? What is the key to their mystique?

In order to prove our point about Monzu in a more journalistic-ly savvy manner, and to answer the questions above, we decided it was time to talk with their Executive Chef, Benjamin Jeanson. And he was kind enough to oblige.

Benjamin, being an executive chef seems like a really cool gig. What is the best part about being an executive chef at a place like Monzu?

"I really like being able to be creative and producing my food; food that I love. It’s great when both you and the customer enjoy what is going on in the bistro."

All the self help books we read talk about having a vision. Do you have a vision for what you are doing at Monzu? How does that vision influence your culinary offerings and the direction Monzu is taking into the future?

"Well, to start my vision wasn’t about a fine-dining restaurant. I didn’t want stuffy overbearing, or complicated service and courses. A bistro should be about really good food served simply. There may be a few words on the menu you don’t know, but overall a casual atmosphere with great French-Italian-American food. Also, one major aspect of our food as a caterer is that you can get any of it to-go (and ready-to-reheat with entrees) and it will be consistent with the quality in the bistro. A lot of people like being able to take entrees home to family and friends and heat them at their convenience."

Has your location in the Broadway District of Green Bay played a role in the success of Monzu? What do you think it is about that area that keeps you there?

We really like the area. It suits us well with a lot of creative stores and restaurants. Each of them have their own feel and it is a great place to shop and dine-out.

When catering, what is your favorite food /dish to prepare?
Which begs the question, if you walked into the Bistro at say 12:30 in the afternoon, what Boxed Lunch would you order?

Well I don’t have one single favorite. I don’t put it on the menu if I don’t like it! Late in the month of May at precisely 12:30p.m. I might order the smoked chicken sandwich with a cup of the cream of asparagus soup and a lemon cream cookie.

The cookies you serve with the Boxed Lunch are like small cakes and they are mighty tasty. I can only imagine what one of those custom cake creations might taste like…Anyway, custom cakery seems like a pretty specialized area of the culinary arts. Who is the cake artist designing these sweet batter based sculptures for Monzu?

"Her name is Jennifer. She does a great job and does lots of fun custom cakes."

Benjamin, as much as I’d like to, hitting you guys up for dinner or lunch everyday isn’t an option seeing as I don’t control the checkbook. How do I implement the Monzu mystique into the food-ing I do at home? Is it even possible?

Lol- "Well, I don’t know about mystique, some of the things we do are simple. We utilize a lot of local vegetables and fruits when possible. A good place to start is a local farmers market (the one on Broadway is right outside our door!). Getting some good product goes a long way towards creating a good meal."

Thanks Benjamin! Well said! That certainly provides a good look into the mantras that have guided Monzu to the top of the bistro food chain. You have a great thing going on, Monzu!

So, Gonzo Guide Green Bay faithful, how does that grab you? Does that help shed some light on what the Monzu scene is all about? We ask you, can you dig it?!

Monzu Bistro & Custom Cakes…Simple, savvy, and sweet!

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Gomez Gonzo
Gonzo Editor-at-Large
gomez@gonzoguidegreenbay.com